Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Marie Suarez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ann Marie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I live here in Boston but grew up in NH and worked for a tile company up there for 8-9 years. I moved to Boston after leaving my old position. Three years later, one of my old colleagues from my previous job in NH, reached out to me. She asked if I still lived here in Boston and that Carlisle, where she was currently working for was looking for a showroom manager at the Boston Design Center. I was already very familiar with the company and knew of their beautiful floors. I interviewed, was offered and accepted the position 2 weeks later. I have been here 4 years this past June.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been an educational road, starting off opening Carlisle’s first showroom here in Boston and the fact I knew very little about wood was daunting. But it’s been great.
In regards to learning about Carlisle and our unique place, new employees are sent to Wood School. We go to NH to the main office and mill and attend “wood school”. Chris Sy, Chief Product Office is an amazing teacher and you learn so much about wide planks, quality, processes. You really get to understand what sets Carlisle apart from the pack.
The struggles her in the showroom at first was trying to actually get on the map here it the greater Boston area. There were a select clientele that knew about Carlisle and quality and beauty of our floors since the company itself had been around for about 50 years at the time, but not everyone.
Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our names says it all- Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring. we have been selling wide plank floors for over 50 years and have paved the road and set the bar for standards of finely handcrafted/handmade floors. We are known first and foremost for our quality craftsmanship and beauty. we specialize in wide planks. We average in 8″ widths, sometimes 6″ and can go as wide as 20″+ depending on the species and our lengths can be as long as 16′ in solid and 12′ in engineered. It’s pretty amazing.
We have worked with the same sawyers for over 50yrs and make all of our floors, including our engineered flooring in New Hampshire. Each floor, each plank is inspected and carefully milled and our team in the mill have the utmost respect for each floor they craft. Our trees are old growth, 90-160yrs old. These trees have been around for a long time, that’s how we get their wide widths and the stability to go wider and longer than most floors out there.
You ask why am I most proud of working for Carlisle. I think that is a multi-layered question. I’m proud to stand behind a product that is so well crafted and so beautiful. The fact that I know everyone that worked on a client’s floor is proud of their work as well. I’m also proud of the fact that we as a company stand behind our product and coming from a customer service background, we have the utmost professional team willing to go above and beyond to meet client’s needs as well as expectations. Last but not least, Carlisle is very conscientious in sustainability and work with sawyers that uphold forestry practices and laws.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Again, I think that is multi-layered. My definition of success 4 years ago is different from today and looking out on the next four years. Personally, I think success is being open to learn and grow as a person. I believe achieving goals whether small or large that when looking back, you know what it took to get there and be proud and in the same breath seeing goals that have not been met and seeing an opportunity rather than a failure. Ultimately, being happy with yourself and what you have done surrounding yourself with people who support you and our goals.
Contact Info:
- Address: Boston Design Center
1 Design Center Place Suit 541
Boston, MA 02210 - Phone: 617-830-4592
- Email: asuarez@wideplankflooring.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlislewideplankfloors/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlislewideplankfloors/?ref=br_rs
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlislefloor?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/carlislefloors/carlisle-wide-plank-floors
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